Slow start to September

After August fizzled out, September has had a sluggish start. There have been good sessions in the field but generally, for this most optimum time of year, quality has been lacking. This has been despite some ideal conditions, too, but the birds just haven't married up. Still, there's plenty of the autumn left …

Wheatear.

Sunday 1st

With the breezy north-easterly still in play and rain forecast this morning, anticipation was relatively high – but I woke up to light cloud without any precipitation. I binned off my planned waterbody stakeout as a result and headed to Shackleford, where a decent – but fairly steady – visit extended the late August run of quietness into September.

I did at least manage two Whinchats – a precious commodity in Surrey this autumn and a very late first of the season for Shackleford. They were associating with the local Stonechats and I made sure to appreciate them.

Whinchats.

Migration was otherwise limited, though good numbers of Swallows and House Martins lingered overhead, attracting a Hobby – a site scarcity. Two Lesser Black-backed Gulls drifted south as well, but the Lone Barn track was disappointingly quiet.

Hobby.

Other bits included two Red-legged Partridges, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel. 

Kestrel, Starlings, Chiffchaff and Linnet.

By late morning it was bright, sunny and warm, and a casual skywatch from the patio produced two treats – a southbound Yellow Wagtail, representing a tidy garden tick, and a juvenile Peregrine, which was only my second garden record. Seven Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew south-west, too.

Monday 2nd

After a few days of easterlies, this morning's drizzly early September murk felt properly rare – but that was sadly not reflected in the avian action during my waterbody sweep. Tuesley was dead, bar the lingering Common Sandpiper, and Frensham Great Pond was only a little bit better …

Frensham Great Pond looking rare af.

Five Gadwall were of note, continuing the recent uptick of records here. A female Teal circled a few times and five Lesser Black-backed Gulls cruised south, but they were the only signs of movement, aside two each of Sand Martin and Little Grebe.

Gadwall.

Compared with my last visit a little over a week ago, Great Crested Grebe numbers were notably down, and Coots well up, including a pair with a very late brood of two small chicks.

Coots and Mallard.

Tuesday 3rd

Conditions were similar this morning – rather murky and muggy early on, though a little bit brighter, before light showers moved through. I headed to Thursley and had a really poor quality two hours on site, with little evidence of migration among a paltry early September total of 38 species.

Thursley Common.

A large mixed feeding flock at Will Reeds was the highlight, though I could only prize out a Firecrest and three or more Willow Warblers. Singles of Tree Pipit and Redstart were still to be found on site, a Dartford Warbler was seen carrying food (seems late!) and two Water Rails were at Pudmore. But that was it …

Carrion Crow.

A juvenile Tawny Owl was calling late at night in the village – notable as I've heard so few in Eashing this year.

Wednesday 4th

This morning was fresh and clear, with a gentle north-westerly. It felt perfect for birds to have moved overnight and, after a week or so of disappointing local birding, I was rewarded with a really fun two-hour visit to Shackleford, where I logged 51 species amid perhaps my most enjoyable visit here this autumn so far.

Shackleford.

The Lone Barn track was back to its lively best and warblers had clearly been on the move, with perhaps the rarest bird of the morning a Garden Warbler – only my third-ever record at the Shack and hot on the heels of the territorial male in May. I rarely see this species in September locally … it's also the 10th warbler I've had here this autumn!

Garden Warbler.

Singles of Reed and Sedge Warblers were new in, too, with both enjoying the faux reedbed maize crop. Chiffchaff numbers reached 25 or so.

Sedge Warbler.

Rivalling Garden Warbler for bird of the morning was a typically brief and elusive Redstart. A first-winter male, this species is less than annual here and always a prize find on passage, I feel.

Redstart.

Two Tree Pipits were also present, spending time feeding in the bumblebee margin and flying to cover. What a great autumn it's been for this species. Two Wheatears were also spotted and a Yellowhammer added to a wonderful selection of early autumn content on the deck, which has been so lacking in recent weeks.

Wheatears and Tree Pipits.

The skies were lively too, with my first Meadow Pipit of the autumn almost predictable on the north-west wind, as it bombed south. Six Yellow Wagtails and a single Grey Wagtail headed the same way.

Yellow Wagtails.

Raven, Bullfinch and two Red-legged Partridges highlighted among the supporting cast. Late August and early September has disappointed in 2024, but this was a fun morning, even if it lacked the rarity icing on the cake.

Enthused, I did a short walk around Eashing Fields on the way home, before work called. It was fairly quiet, though two Swifts west were unexpected – my joint latest-ever Surrey record.

Swift.

After Sunday's garden first Yellow Wagtail, I went one better late afternoon when I heard one from my study window, calling several times as it flew south!

Thursday 5th

With a north-easterly bringing rain and a fresh breeze, this morning felt autumnal and, like Monday, fairly rare. However, also like Monday, I had an unproductive waterbody session, which began at Tuesley – a site that has had the poorest autumn out of all of my main sites.

Tuesley.

The juvenile Common Sandpiper was still present and Tufted Duck numbers were up to 55. A Yellow Wagtail was grounded, along with a handful of Swallows and Sand Martins. A Whitethroat skulked around the perimeter fence, but that was it.

Tufted Duck, Common Sandpiper and hirundines.

I then checked Frensham Great Pond, which was quieter than Monday, with a single female Shoveler out in the middle of the water the only bird of note.

Shoveler.

Friday 6th

No birding.

Saturday 7th

After a very lively two days in Surrey which saw me score diddly squat locally, this morning was very foggy, with visibility poor at best when I arrived at Tuesley early on. 

A 45-minute stake-out was a bit pointless in the conditions, but I did at least have a Wheatear and Tree Pipit drop in, while a Yellow Wagtail flew south. The Common Sandpiper was still present as well.

Common Sandpiper.

I then headed to Thursley, where the murk had lifted a little. There were next to no birds, though, with the only bit of note my second Meadow Pipit of the autumn over Pudmore.